Vault



April 25, 1967 v. CORNARO 3,315,622

VAULT Filed May 10, 1965 INVENTOR Va'ELoR'Io Comno UWO Kan...-

United States Patent Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 13, 1964, 6,223/ 64 4 Claims. (Cl. 109-59) The present invention has reference to an improved vault construction particularly suitable for use as a hotel safety deposit box or safe.

In my co-pending United States Patent application Serial No. 370,003, filed May 25, 1964, now United States Patent 3,250,100 granted May 10, 1966, and entitled Locking Device For Vaults, Particularly Hotel Safety Deposit Boxes there is described a locking apparatus for vaults, particularly for hotel safety deposit boxes, used by a random changing circle of persons. Such locking apparatus is generally characterized by a bolt actuating mechanism which can be withdrawn and exchanged from a Wall portion of the vault in the unlocked condition of the apparatus. This bolt actuating mechanism incorporates at least one component movable by means of an insertable key which, after mounting of the bolt actuating mechanism in such wall portion, is operably associated with at least one vault bolt arranged in said wall portion.

As described in the introduction of the aforementioned United States patent my new and improved locking apparatus provides considerable advantages since it is possible for private individuals to furnish themselves with a locking apparatus and with such can equip a vault located in hotels, upon ships or other structures pnovided with vaults with their own lock. These vaults can be fitted with heavy bolts since the locking apparatus only furnishes a bolt actuating mechanism, therefore is small, can be easily handled and is of relatively light-weight construction.

In order that the vaults can be used with the considered exchangeable, insertable bolt actuating mechanism they must possess a special construction. Thus, a hotel or a shipping company or another company interested in the renting or purchasing of vaults would have difficulty in deciding to install vaults which at least at the start can only be used by a limited group of persons. Even if advertising is extensive for the new vault system, then it is still necessary to reckon with a certain period of introduction until a large enough circle of persons possesses exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism which would enable sufficient utilisation of the vaults provided for such.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved vault construction which enables the vault to be used both with and without an insertable and exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism.

In order to implement this and still further objects of the invention, the inventive vault is constructed to be used with an exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism, and is further characterized by the feature that it possesses an additonal lock of standard construction which can be actuated by an insertable key or also by a combination.

Equipping of the vault with a further lock capable of actuation by a key or combination enables the vault, constructed to operate with the exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism, to be also used by persons who are not in possession of their own bolt actuating mechanism. These persons can then receive a key or combination from the company providing them with the use of the vault, for instance a hotel or shipping company. By virtue of these measures, such type vaults become economically inter- 3,315,622 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 esting during the period of introduction for their owner, particularly since they can always be used by persons who do not possess their own bolt actuating mechanism, even if, in the latter case, less security is provided.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawing wherein the single figure schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of inventive vault incorporating an exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism and an additional lock.

Considering now the single figure there is shown an installable vault or safety deposit box B which is of standard size for hotels, shipping companies or the like. The door 2 shown in open position is arranged at a vault housing 1 preferably embedded in a non-illustrated wall. This vault door 2 is provided along one marginal edge 2a with a recess or compartment 3a in which there is inserted an exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism 3 of the type described in detail in my aforementioned co-pending United States patent application, Serial No. 370,003, now US. Patent 3,250,100 to which reference-may be readily made. As set forth in this patent the insertable and exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism 3 is capable of actuating a heavy vault bolt in the form of a displaceable bar member for instance, such as a Bascule-bolt 4. Furthermore, the door 2 is equipped with a standard safe lock 5 of any suitable type which engages by means of a bolt element 6 in an appropriate recess 7 disposed in the front Wall portion of the vault housing 1 opposite the side mounting the door 2. This additional lock 5 can be actuated by a key or can be a combination-type lock for instance.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is vnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vault to be used by a random changing circle of persons as hotel, room-, and ships-cabin-safe deposit box, comprising a vault housing having a Wall-portion, a locking device carried by said vault housing for locking said vault by means of an exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism, said wall-portion being provided with a recess for the insertion of said exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism, an exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism insertable in and removable from said recess of said wall-portion of said vault in the unlocked condition of said locking device, said wall-portion having at least one vault bolt permanently carried therein, said exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism being actuatable by means of an insertable key, said bolt actuating mechanism upon being inserted in said wall portion being operably associated with said vault bolt, and additional lock means operable independently of said exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism and said vault bolt.

2. A vault as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional lock means is constructed to be actuated by a key.

3. A vault as defined in claim 1, wherein said additional lock means is a combination lock.

4. A vault as defined in claim 1, wherein said wallportion defines a door connected with said vault housing, said recess for the insertion of the said exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism being disposed in the door of said vault housing, said vault bolt being at least one displaceable bar member permanently carried in said vault door and constructed as a Bascule-bolt operated by means of said exchangeable bolt actuating mechanism, said addi- 'Bascule-bolt, said additional lock means being disposed in said vault door, and wherein a recess for engaging with said look bolt of said additional lock means is disposed in said vault housing opposite the side mounting said vault door.

4 7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,337,554 4/1920 Harris 109-59 2,750,901 6/1956 McClellan 109-59 REINALDO P. MACI-IADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VAULT TO BE USED BY A RANDOM CHANGING CIRCLE OF PERSONS AS HOTEL, ROOM, AND SHIP''S-CABIN-SAFE DEPOSIT BOX, COMPRISING A VAULT HOUSING HAVING A WALL-PORTION, A LOCKING DEVICE CARRIED BY SAID VAULT HOUSING FOR LOCKING SAID VAULT BY MEANS OF AN EXCHANGEABLE BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM, SAID WALL-PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A RECESS FOR THE INSERTION OF SAID EXCHANGEABLE BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM, AN EXCHANGEABLE BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM INSERTABLE IN AND REMOVABLE FROM SAID RECESS OF SAID WALL-PORTION OF SAID VAULT IN THE UNLOCKED CONDITION OF SAID LOCKING DEVICE, SAID WALL-PORTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE VAULT BOLT PERMANENTLY CARRIED THEREIN, SAID EXCHANGEABLE BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM BEING ACTUATABLE BY MEANS OF AN INSERTABLE KEY, SAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM UPON BEING INSERTED IN SAID WALL PORTION BEING OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID VAULT BOLT, AND ADDITIONAL LOCK MEANS OPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID EXCHANGEABLE BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM AND SAID VAULT BOLT. 